Siler twins lead Seaford past Friends Academy with 25 points combined

Seaford's Jenna Siler goes for the inside shot during the Nassau High School girls basketball game where Seaford defeated Friends Academy, 48-37, at Seaford High School in Seaford, New York on Jan. 19, 2016. Photo Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy

Seaford's Jenna Siler goes for the inside shot during the Nassau High School girls basketball game where Seaford defeated Friends Academy, 48-37, at Seaford High School in Seaford, New York on Jan. 19, 2016. (Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy)

It was a matter of family for Seaford.

Fraternal twins Jenna and Julia Siler led the host Vikings to a 48-37 win over Friends Academy in Nassau A-IV Tuesday night. Jenna scored a game-high 18 points (11 rebounds), while Julia had seven points and five assists.

Jenna, a 5-10 forward, was automatic from inside the arc, with many of her open jumpers coming off great passes from her sister,...

Jenna, a 5-10 forward, was automatic from inside the arc, with many of her open jumpers coming off great passes from her sister, a 5-6 point guard. “I always know where she’s going to be,” Julia said. “I know what she’s going to do.”

The Quakers pressed on the perimeter, leaving shooters open near the baseline. Julia and fellow guards Alyssa Mallery and Kaitlyn Meyer (seven points) frequently found the shooters. “We like to pass it around to get it to the open player,” Jenna Siler said. “Their defense left the jump shot open. We took advantage.”

Seaford opened with a 20-8 first quarter, with eight points from the Silers — four apiece. Seaford stayed aggressive in the second, taking a 37-18 advantage into the half.

Center Jaclyn Grzelaczyk had 11 points, all before the break. But she got into foul trouble early, forcing Bob Vachris to bench her for some of the second half. That hurt Seaford’s defense against Lindsay O’Sullivan, who largely was kept in check until Grzelaczyk’s absence. O’Sullivan scored seven of her 10 points in the second half, and Ellie Shibley and Liz Gherlone each added seven points.

Seaford struggled to pull away after Julia left the game in the third quarter after banging a knee against the floor while fighting for a loose ball. She returned before the quarter ended.

“In the first, we were moving the ball and getting the ball into the post,” Vachris said. “Jackie was scoring. In the second half, she got in foul trouble and Julia got banged up. We lost our momentum, so to speak.”

The Vikings (7-1) held on despite the 3-4 Quakers’ 19-9 run that ended the game.

The Silers, who are sophomores, don’t have a nickname. They did last season when they played with older sister Kathryn, who graduated. Teammates called them the “Triple Threat.” Now, they’re simply “the Silers.”

Like typical twins, they’re prone to finishing each other’s sentences.